NZ Pinot Gris Tasting results

10 February 2016 (Cuisine magazine Issue 175)

The rise in popularity of pinot gris caught everyone by surprise a few years back. It continues to be a favourite go-to drop for many consumers, but unfortunately progress has been slow on the quality front. Unlike its aromatic cousins, riesling and gewurztraminer, there are very few winemakers who passionately back pinot gris, and this was reflected in the results of our latest tasting. Just three wines were awarded the maximum five stars from a field of 123. “Too many of the wines don’t have definition, care and concentration, and are reliant on sugar rather than genuine fruit intensity,” said panel chair John Belsham. Jane Boyle agreed: “There’s a mystery aspect as to why it’s so popular. Having said that, the best wines have integrity and speak of the variety.”

Top 5 NZ Pinot Gris

This wine’s white flower, pear, ginger and fennel scents are refined and exotic. They promise a mouthful of intrigue and balance, and that is precisely what you get. The fruit concentration is exemplary, ensuring the sweetness (the wine is medium dry in style) never has the upper hand. “It’s pristine and sophisticated ,” noted Jane Boyle. “And I’d serve it with pulled pork and chutney.”